Light bracket



-A. F. PlEPER June 28, 1932.

LIGHT BRACKET Filed Dec. 19, 1929 Patented June 28, 1 932 stars LIGHTBRACKET Application filed December 19, 1929. Serial No. 415,175. 3

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularlyto an improved form of supporting means for the lampor lamps where it isdesired to support the same in any one of a number of adjustedpositions, such as is required in the operating lamps employed bydentists, physicians, and others.

It is old to provide pivoted lamp-supporting arms which are adapted tobe maintained in adjusted position by virtue of some sort of frictionaldevices augmented by counterbalancing springs or other like devices. Itis also old to provide means for adjusting the tension of thecounterbalancing spring means, but, so far as I am aware, suchadjustments are not easily made and are, as a matter of fact, usuallyneglected, the operator relying upon the frictional means to maintainthe lamps in the position desired. Other disadvantages found in thedevices of the prior art are that in some of them the force of thecounterbalancing means is not exerted so as to afford a complete balancethroughout the full range of the lamp supporting arm.

In other devices of the prior art, it is necessary to apply such'adegree of pressure on the friction devices that the position of thelamp-supporting arm is not easily adjusted.

It is, therefore, the principal object of my invention to provide adevice wherein the above mentioned disadvantages are eliminated, andparticularly to provide an adjustable lighting fixture wherein a betterbalance over the full range of the adjustment of the device is attained.Another object of my invention is to provide means, in connection withthe counterbalancing means, for applying a small amount of friction toobviate frequent adjustments of the counterbalancing means.

' Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art after a consideration of the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, inwhich 2-- Fig. 1 is an elevation of the preferred form of my inventionand in which certain parts are shown in section; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1. i

In the drawing the reference ,numeral 1 refers to astationary-bracket ofthe usual type and adapted to be secured to a wall or the like.Pivotally mounted in the bracket 1 is a support 2 adaptedto swinghorizontally about a vertical axis, the said support 2 being providedwith a bearing portion 3 received by'the bracket 1. Y

The support 2 may be formedto provide a shoulder 4 to' cooperatewith'the bracket 1 to hold the support 2 inproper position thereon. r v

The source of'light or lamps6 are supported at the outer end of asupporting arm 7 by means of a light supporting fitting 9 secured to theouter end of the arm 7. The lamp 6 shown is of the single light .typebut it'is to be understoodthat a cluster of lights or otherlighting'fixture may be'supported' at the outer end of the arm 7. Thelight supporting arm 7 is seen to consist of two telescoping members 10and '11, the member 11 being-in the form of a'tube having at its outerend a ferrule 12 threaded thereon. The ferrule 12 is provided with aninwardly directed flange 13 which is adapted to cooperate with the outerend of the member 11 to force a washer 15 into frictional engagementWiththe member 10. As is clear from Fig. 1, the'members 10' and 11 areslidable one within the other so as to space the light 6 the desireddistance from the support 2. In addition to its function of providingfriction means adapted to maintain the members 10' and 11 in adjustedposition, the ferrule 12 and the washer 15 may. also serve as means tolimit the relative movement between the members 10 and 11. w

The arm 7 is pivoted to the support 2 by means of ayoke 17 threaded orotherwise secured to the member 11 at its inner end. The support 2 isprovided with an outwardly directed lug 18 having an aperture 19therein, which lug 18 is received between the friction ears 20 and 21,forming a part of the yoke 17. The friction ears 20 and 21 are alsoapertured and a bolt 22 is passed through the apertures in the ears andthe lug just mentioned.

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The bolt 22 is provided with a head 23 and a nut 24. Tightening the nut24 serves to exert friction between the ears 2'0 and 21 and the lug 18.

I shall now describe the novel counterbalancing means I have provided tobalance the weight of the extended arm 7 and the lamps 6 carriedthereby. Spaced from the bolt or pivot 22 and secured to the member 11is a bracket 27 provided with an upstanding apertured lug 28. Thesupport 2 is also provided with an upstanding apertured lug 30, the axisof which aperture is spaced vertically with respect to the axis of thebolt 22. The aperture in the upstanding lug 28 of the bracket 27 is soformed as to provide a sort of pivot point which is connected by aresilient force exerting means to the pivot established by the aperturedlug 30 on the support 2. From the drawing, this resilient force exertingmeans is seen to consist of a rod 32 having a head or nut 33 at itsouter end which is swiveled in an enlarged socket at the outer end ofthe aperture 35 and allows the rod 32 to pivot in the aperture 35 formedin the lug 28. A tubular member 38 receives the inner end of the'rod 32and is provided with a cap 0; ferrule 39 threaded to the outer endthere- 0 The inner end of the tubular member 38 is threadedly receivedby a yoke 41 which is provided with a pair of apertured ears 43 pivotedto the upstanding lug 30 by means of a pivot pin 44 which may be held ineither of the ears 43 or the lug 30, as by a set screw 45.

The tubular member 38 is provided at its inner end with an elongatedslot 47 in which a nut 48 is slidable, the nut 48 being threaded uponthe inner threaded end of the rod 32. Between the cap or ferrule 39 andthe slidable nut 48 is a compression spring 50, one end of which bearsagainst the cap or ferrule 39, and the other end of which bears againstthe nut 48. The head or nut 33 is formed so that it is easily accessiblefor turning the rod 32 to adjust the position of the nut 48 and, hence,the tension in the spring 50, it being understood that, by virtue of itsreception in the slot 47, the nut 48 is held non-rotatable therein.

In order to limit the relative movement between the rod 32 and thetubular member 38, I. provide a sleeve member 52 adapted to be receivedwithin the tubular member 38 and between the inner end thereof and theshoulder 54 of the threaded socket 55 in which the tubular member 38 isreceived. For this purpose the sleeve 52 is provided with an outwardlydirected flange 57 (see Fig. l). The sleeve 52 is also provided with aninwardly directed flange 58. The threaded socket 55 is provided with acounter-bore 60 and the eX- treme inner end of the rod 32 is rounded sothat it may contact with the bottom of the bore 60 without damaging thethreads. The

inner end of the rod 32 also carries a pair of nuts 61 which are adaptedto contact with the inwardly directed flange 58 formed on the sleeve 52.By this construction, the inward movement, as well as the outwardmovement of the rod 32, relative to the tubular member 38, is maintainedbetween the operating limits.

It is obvious that these nuts 61 may be adjusted on the rod 32 and thatthe provision of two of such nuts allows one to be jammed against theother whereby they are maintained in the desired position or locked inplace.

The operation of my device is believed to be apparent to those skilledin the art to which it appertains. The weight on the lamp 6 and the arm7 is counterbalanced by the spring 50, the latter being adjusted, as byturning the head or nut 33 in the proper direction, so that its forceexactly balances the weight of the parts just mentioned. The

spring 50 is so formed and of such a length that the arm 7 is held inany of its positions, within the operating range above referred to,thereby. In this way I find that very little, if any, friction isrequired, as on the pivotal connection 22, to aid the spring 50 inholding the arm 7 in adjusted position. However, the friction means Ihave provided at the pivot 22 allows for the application of friction toaugment the force of the spring 50 where it is not desired to take careof slight changes in the tension of the spring by re-adjustment thereof.

While I have described, in connection with the accompanying drawing, thespecific form in which I prefer to embody my invention, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific meanswhich I have herein shown and described, and that, in fact, widelydifferent means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspectsof my invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A lightingfixture comprising a support, a light supporting armswiveled to the support, means for holding said arm in adjustedposition, said means comprising a tubular member and a relativelyslidable rod therein, one pivoted to the arm and the other to saidsupport, resilient means controlling the relative movement of said rodin said tubular member, and means for limiting the relative movement ofthe rod in said tubular member and comprising an abutment in saidtubular member and a nut on said rod, said nut adapted to contact saidabutment in the longitudinal movement of said rod.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a support. a light supporting armswiveled tothe support, means for holding said arm in adjusted position,said means comprising a tubular member and a rod therein, one pivoted tothe arm and the other tosaid support,.resilient means controlling therelative movement of the rod in said tubular member, and adjusting meansto vary the force exerted by the resilient means, comprising alongitudinal slot in-said tubular member, a nut threaded on said rod, alug on said nut adapted to register with said slot whereby turningofsaid rod will move said nut longitudinally in said slot to vary theforce of the resilient means.

8. A. lighting fixture comprising the comb-ination of a bracket, asupport swiveled thereto, an arm pivoted to thesupport, said armcomprising a pair of telescoping tubes, a source of light secured to theouter end of said arm, counterbalancing means for said arm, said lastnamed means including a bracketmounted on the inner end of said tubes, arod secured to the bracket, a tubular 'memberire ceiving said rod andpivotedto said support at a point spaced vertically from the pivotalconnection of the arm,"a spring encircling said rod and hearing at oneend against the outer end of said tubular member, and a nut on the otherend ofsaid rod and bearing against the other end of the: spring, saidtubular member having a slot and said nut having a projec tion slidablein the slot whereby the nut is maintained in non-rotatable relationwiththe tubular member, a sleeve having an inwardly directed flange andsecured within the inner end of said tubular member and surrounding theinner end of said rod, and a pair of nuts threaded on the inner end. ofsaid rod and cooperating with the flange to limit the movement of therod relativeto the tubular mam,

ber.

4. A lighting fixture comprising the combination of a bracket, a supportpivotally supported thereby for movement about a vertical axis, saidsupport having an aperturedlug extending therefrom, an arm comprising apair of telescoping members, one of which is provided with a yokesecured thereto, said yoke having a pair of apertured friction earsadapted to be pivotally mounted on said lug, adjustable pivot meansextending through the apertures of said ears and said lug, a lightsupporting fitting carried by the other of said telescoping members, asource of light supported by said fitting, counterbalancing means forsaid arm and comprising a bracket mounted on said one telescopingmember, said bracket having an aperture, a rod received at one end bysaid aperture and having a head engageable with said bracket, said rodbeing threaded at the other end, a tubular member receiving said rod andhaving at one end a ferrule threaded thereon through which said rod isslidable, said tubular member being provided at its other end with ayoke threaded thereon having a pair of apertured ears, said supporthaving a second apertured lug spaced vertically from the first namedapertured lug, said second lug having pivot means by which said tubularmember is pivotally carried by said support, a spring within saidtubular memberencircling said rod and bearing at oneend against saidferrule, a nut adjustably mounted on the threaded end of said rod, saidtubular member having an elongated slot through which. a portion of saidnut extends, a sleeve having an inwardly directed flange at one end andan outwardly directed flange at the other end, said last named flangebeing secured between the end of said tubular member and the yoke memberthreaded thereon, said yoke having a bore coaxial with said flange andtubular member, and at least one nutthreaded on the end of said rod andcooperating with said inwardly directed flange to limit the outwardmovement of said rod relative to the tubular member, the inner end ofthe rod adapted to contact with the bottom of the bore to limit theinward movement of the rod, said rod being rotatable by said head toadjust the tension of the spring.

5. .A support of the class described including a laterally extendingarm,,said arm comprising a shaft and rod slidable thereinya yoke on saidshaft and having a pair of spaced ears, a vertical bracket integral withsaid shaft, a mounting bracket, a vertical support swiveled in said lastnamed bracket and comprising'a pair of spacedlugs, said ears adapt ed tofrictionally embrace one of said lugs for vertical pivoting movement ofsaid shaft, a counterbalancing means disposed between said integralbracket and the otherof said lugs, and means for limiting the posit-ionof said rod relative to said shaft and comprising an adjustable ferruleon said shaft and compressionme'ans on said rodwhereby tightening ofsaid ferrule will lock said rod against longitudinal movement in saidshaft.

6; A support of the class described including a laterally extending arm,a mounting bracket, a supporting head swiveled in said bracket forhorizontal movement, a pair of spaced lugs integral with said head, ayoke threaded on one end of said arm and having spaced ears embracingone of said lugs, a counterbalancing means disposed between said arm andsaid other lug, said counterbalancing means comprising a tubular memberhavinga longitudinal slot therein. a yoke connected to said other lugand having aninternally threaded socket for the reception of saidtubular member, a movable rod carried by the tubular member andconnectedto said arm, a threaded member on said rod and registering with theslotin said tubular member, and

spaced ears embracing one of said lugs, a counterbalancing meansdisposed between said arm and said other lug, said counterbalancingmeans comprising a tubular member having a longitudinal slot therein, ayoke connected to said other lug and having an internally threadedsocket for the reception of said tubular member, a movable rod carriedby the tubular member and connected to said arm, a member threaded onsaid rod and registering with the slot in said tubular member forpreventing rotation thereof, a cap on the end of said tubular memberthrough which said rod extends, a compression spring disposed betweensaid cap and threaded member, a sleeve disposed in said tubular memberand receiving said rod, and stop means on the rod for limiting themovement thereof in the sleeve.

8. A support of the class described including a laterally extending arm,a mounting bracket, a supporting head swiveled in said bracket forhorizontal rotation, a pair of spaced lugs integral with said head, ayoke threaded on one end of said arm and having spaced ears embracingone of said lugs, a counterbalancing means disposed between said arm andsaid other lug, said counterbalancing means comprising a tubular member,a yoke connected to said other lug and having a socket for the receptionof said tubular member, a movable rod carried by said tubular member-andconnected to said rod, a cap on the end of said tubular member throughwhich said rod extends, a compression spring disposed between said capand said threaded member for exerting a yielding force on said rod, aflanged sleeve dis posed between said tubular member and rod, and a nuton said rod and engaging said flanged sleeve for limiting the outwardmovement of said rod, said rod adapted to abut the end of said socketfor limiting the inward movement thereof.

9. A lighting fixture comprising a support, a fixture supporting armmovably mounted on said support, a member connected with said support ata point spaced vertically of said arm, a rod rot'atably connected withsaid arm, and yielding means connecting the rod with said member andadjustable by turning said rod.

10. A lighting fixture comprising a support, a fixture supporting armmovably mounted on said support, a tubular member connected with saidsupport at a point spaced vertically of said arm, a spring mounted nutmember slidably and yieldably mounted in said member, and a rod havingconnected near one end with said arm for universal movement, the otherend of said rod being threaded into said nut member whereby turning saidrod adjusts the tension of said spring.

11. A lighting fixture comprising a support, a fixture carrying armpivoted to said support for vertical swinging, a tubular member pivotedto said support, a rod member connected with said arm and movablerelative to said tubular member, a spring biased between said members,means to adjust the tension of said spring, and separate means foradjusting the range of said relative movement.

12. A lighting fixture comprising a sup port, afixture supporting armpivoted on said support, a member pivoted to said support at a pointdisposed eccentric with respect to the pivot for said arm, said pivotedmember having abutment means, a first element rotatably connected withsaid arm, a second element having threaded engagement with said firstelement, said second element being movable along the pivoted member andheld against turning with respect to said first element, and yieldingmeans interposed between said second element and the abutment means onsaid pivoted member.

13. A lighting fixture comprising a support, a fixture supporting armpivoted on said support, a member pivoted to said support at apointdisposed eccentric with respect to the pivot for said arm, said pivotedmember having abutment means, a first element rotatably connected withsaid arm, a second element having threaded engagement with said firstelement, said second element being movable along the pivoted member andheld against turning with respect to said first element, yielding meansinterposed between said second element and the abutment means on saidpivoted member, said pivoted member being tubular for enclosing saidyielding means and having a slot cooperable with said second element toprevent turning of said element with respect to the first element, andsaid yielding means being adjustable by turning said first element.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day ofDecember. 1929.

ALPHONSE F; lPIEPER.

